That news came with it the first mention of Andrew Forrest's new Indo Pacific Rugby Championship, a competition still yet to be ticked off but gaining momentum for a 2019 start, as the mining billionaire fronted the Force squad, staff and media almost immediately after the decision.

Though their Wallabies couldn't be there, the bulk of the Force's squad was in the room when their executives reacted to the decision publicly, many in tears, left to confront an unknown future.